Collapsible tube holder



1963 A. s. BAKER 3,101,869

' COLLAPSIBLE TUBE HOLDER Filed May 24, 1961 ALBERT S. BAKER AGENTUnited States Patent 3,101,869 COLLAPSIBLE TUBE HOLDER Albert S. Baker,422 S. Oak St., Inglewood 1, Calif.

Filed May 24, 1961, Ser. No. 112,411

4 Claims. (tIl. 222-105) My invention relates to a dispenser for pastesand the like contained in collapsible tubes.

The collapsible tube, usually formed of easily deformable metal, that isemployed to package various viscous materials, such as tooth paste, hairgrooming preparations, shaving cream and the like, is well known.However, this convenient package often becomes messy in use andmisplaced or punctured by storage in drawers or similar places in abathroom.

I have been able to overcome these difficulties by providing aninexpensive, yet sturdy, telescoping dispenser which adjusts to small orto large tubes and which is attachable without tools to any surfacehaving the same contour as the rear of my device. This allows the pasteto always be available at a given place, such as the inside of the doorof a medicine chest, upon the wall adjacent to the medicine chest, orelsewhere as may be convenient. The fixed positioning, furthermore,allows dispensing the paste by merely pressing upon any freely availablepart of the surface of the collapsible tube with one or more fingers ofone hand, rather than to handle the whole tube in the hands asheretofore. This simple touch" mode of dispensing is possible because Iretain the collapsible tube against the dispenser assembly instead offreely supporting it therein. Thus, the reactive force to the dispensingtouch pressure is supplied by the dispenser assembly and the whole iskinernatically compatible. 7

Briefly, my device is comprised of a planar support in a preferredembodiment having plural aligned transverse sections spaced from theplane of the support and also having an end at right angles to the saidplane into which the outlet orifice of the collapsible tube fits. Therear surface of the planar support is provided with a strongly adhesivepressure-sensitive material for causing the support of my device toadhere to a selected supporting surface, such as a wall.

Slidably disposed within the aligned transverse sections of the supportis an elongated tongue having an enlarged angled top. The top isprovided with one or more slits running in the transverse directionthereof and suited to hold the flatted end of the tube. After insertingthe flatted end in the slot the end is bent over as convenient. Theslots dispose the flat dimension of the collapsible tube parallel to theWall, so that the corner thereof is not a bothersome projection and sothat the appearance of the whole assembly is enhanced.

An object of my invention is to provide an adjustable holder to form adispensing device for a collapsible tube.

Another object is to provide a holder-dispenser that can be attached toany planar surface without employing screws or similar fastenings.

Another object is to provide a holder for, a collapsible tube so thatthe contents thereof can be dispensed by the pressure exerted by onefinger.

Another object is to provide an all-plastic holder for forming acollapsible tube dispenser.

Another object is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive tubedispensing holder.

Other objects will become apparent upon reading the following detailedspecification and upon examining the accompanying drawings, in which areset forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of myinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of my assembled device, with acollapsible tube in place,

3,101,869 Patented Aug. 27, 1963 FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of thesame, and

.FIG. 3 shows an end elevation of the same looking upward from thebottom of FIG. 1.

In the figures, numeral 1 indicates the planar support; which is themajor part of my device. This is prefer-ably injection molded of highimpact styrene, which gives a strong and an attractive part. A lower end2 extends outwardly at right angles to the main part of support 1 and isprovided with a U-shaped aperture 3. This aperture is proportioned andspaced so as to hold the collapsible tube firmly in place in coactionwith other parts of the device when outlet orifice 4 of the collapsibletube is inserted into the aperture.

A plurality of aligned transverse sections 5, 6 and 7 are provided inthe upper part of support 1 in order that tongue 8 may be slidablyjoined to support 1. In addition to the elongated portion of tongue 8there is a surmo-unting angled portion 9. This extends forwardly inalignment with the oppositely disposed end 2 of support 1. Thisarrangement allows collapsible tube 10 to be held in mydispenser-holder. The flatted end 11 of the collapsible tube is passedthrough a slot 12 in the lower area of angled portion 9 of the tongueand is preferably bent over slightly as shown in FIG. 2 so as to mostcompletely secure the tube within the dispenser. In the process of theuser inserting the collapsible tube the correct vertical position oftongue 8 within the aligned sections is automatically arranged. Thedimensions determining the spacing of slot 12 and aperture 3 withrespect to support 1 are such as to position collapsible tube 10 againstthe vertical portion of support 1, particularly at the lower end of thetube, and against transverse sections 5, 6 and 7 at the upper end of thetube. This configuration provides a secure mounting of the tube in thedispenser-holder. It provides a structure in which pressure upon thefront of tube 10 at any point such as 14 is resisted and the contents ofthe tube is dispensed through outlet 4. The configuration also resultsin a neat appearance.

A second and longer slot is also provided in angled portion 9 of thetongue to accommodate large-sized collapsible tubes. Slot 15 is forwardof slot 12 so that the same compact structure is obtained with thelarge-sized tube as Was previously described. The adjustability oftongue 8 within the transverse sections 5, 6 and 7 accommodates tubes ofdifferent lengths. Collapsible tube 10 may deform slightly around thetransverse section, as at 7. Such deformation takes place automaticallyupon the user installing the tube in the holder. It adds to the rigidityof the composite structure.

Over the greater part of the rear surface of support 1 apressure-sensitive adhesive 16 is applied. This may be of the generictype of which Scotch tape is an example. The adhesive is protected by apiece of peelable paper during manufacture that is removed just prior toinstallation. More specifically, Polyken Industrial Tape manufactured bythe Kendall Company, Chicago, 111., is suitable. This is a double-facedadhesive having a cloth base. A peelable plastic liner is also providedto be removed by the user just prior to installation of the device. Itwill be recognized that the adhesive allows very easy installation upona number of desired surfaces Where the use of prior known screws wouldbe diflicult or impossible. One such surface is the rear of a metalmedicine chest door which carries a mirror on the front.

While the transverse sections 5, 6 and 7 have been shown fully raisedfrom the planar surface of support 1 it will be understood that thesesections may be raised only partially therefrom and a shallow groovecast into the planar surface just wide enough to accommodate theelongated portion of tongue 8.

It will also be understood that although a flat configuration of support1 and tongue 8 have been shown, these elements may be curved in partaround tube 10 or curved away from the tube, so that the dispenser canbe attached to a coved surface or to a cylindrical surface,respectively. New injection molds are required, of course, for either ofthese alternates.

By employing high impact styrene my device is strong, light-weight andeasily manufactured. No metal parts are required; thus, corrosion,expense and possible injury to the user, as occasioned by accidentallystriking the device, are avoided. Various colors can be combined withthe styrene molding material and so various color schemes of thesurroundings accommodated.

It is not necessary that the holder be positioned to provide avertically downward discharge of the contents of the collapsible tube,although this is usual. The bolder can be mounted for horizontaldischarge of the contents, or it can be mounted at any angle dictated bythe circumstances of the surroundings or the needs of the user.

The usual threaded cap, shown dotted at 18 in FIG. 1, may be replacedupon collapsible tube 10 after each use of the dispenser if this isdesired. However, I have found that this is not required with the greatmajority of pastes, etc., that are packaged in collapsible tubes.

It will also be understood that various kinds of viscous materials maybe packaged in the collapsible tube em ployed with my holder, such asmedicines, paints, pastes, etc., and that my holder may be employed infactories or elsewhere where such materials are needed. My holder mayalso be employed with collapsible tubes of plastic, since the frictionbetween the support 1 and the tongue 8 holds these parts together oncethe tube has been installed and it is not required that the flat 11 bebent over.

Still other modifications may be made in the arrangement, size,proportions and shape of my holder-dispenser without departing from thescope of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention and the manner in which it isto be practiced, I claim:

1 Adjustable means to support a collapsible tube of a size within agiven range of sizes comprising a support having at least one sectionspaced from said support and an end, said end constituted to support oneend of said collapsible tube, said section and said end on one side ofsaid support,

an adhesive upon the opposite side of said support for attaching saidsupport to another object;

a slidable part substantially coplanarly engaging said section andhaving an end inclined away from said support,

the inclined end of said part having a slot to accept the other end ofsaid collapsible tube and to position it in contact with said support toallow the contents of 4 said collapsible tube to be dispensed upon theapplication of pressure upon said collapsible tube.

2. The adjustable means of claim 1 in which said support is exclusivelya single molded piece of high impact styrene and said slidable part isalso exclusively a single molded piece of high impact styrene.

3. An adjustable holder for a collapsible tube adapted to hold acollapsible tube having a size within a range of sizes comprising asupport having plural aligned strap-like sections spaced from saidsupport and a transversely disposed end apertured to hold the orificeend of said col lapsible tube, said sections and said end located on oneside of said support,

adhesive means upon the opposite side of said support to attach saidsupport to another surface;

an elongated movable element simultaneously slidably engaging pluralsaid aligned sections and having an angled end extending away from saidsupport,

said angled end having a slot to retain the flat end of said collapsibletube, to dispose said collapsible tube in contact with said support forcausing the contents of said collapsible tube to be dispensed upon theapplication of pressure upon the surface of said collapsible tube.

4. A collapsible tube holder-dispenser adjustable as to the size of saidtube comprising a planar support having plural aligned transversesections spaced from the plane of said support and having a projectingend apertured to accept the outlet end of said collapsible tube, saidsections and said end projecting from one side of said support,

a pressure-sensitive adhesive upon the opposite side of said support toattach said support to another planar surface;

a planar tongue having an elongated portion slidably engaging saidaligned sections and an angled portion standing away from the plane ofsaid support,

said angled portion having plural slots parallel to the plane of saidsupport to receive the flatted end of said collapsible tube to retainsaid tube in contact with said support for dispensing the contents ofsaid tube through said outlet upon the application of pressure localizedupon an exposed surface of said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,992,442 Revelle Feb. 26, 1935 2,191,704 Bennett Feb. 27, 19402,340,521 Engert Feb. 1, 1944 2,457,024 Arp Dec. 21, 1948 3,039,657Meuwly June 19, 1962

1. ADJUSTABLE MEANS TO SUPPORT A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE OF A SIZE WITHIN AGIVEN RANGE OF SIZES COMPRISING A SUPPORT HAVING AT LEAST ONE SECTIONSPACED FROM SAID SUPPORT AND AN END, SAID END CONSTITUTED TO SUPPORT ONEEND OF SAID COLLAPSIBLE TUBE, SAID SECTION AND SAID END ON ONE SIDE OFSAID SUPPORT, AN ADHESIVE UPON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT FORATTACHING SAID SUPPORT TO ANOTHER OBJECT; A SLIDABLE PART SUBSTANTIALLYCOPLANARLY ENGAGING SAID SECTION AND HAVING AN END INCLINED AWAY FROMSAID SUPPORT, THE INCLINED END OF SAID PART HAVING A SLOT TO ACCEPT THEOTHER END OF SAID COLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND TO POSITION IT IN CONTACT WITHSAID SUPPORT TO ALLOW THE CONTENTS OF SAID COLLAPSIBLE TUBE TO BEDISPENSED UPON THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE UPON SAID COLLAPSIBLE TUBE.